Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Sen. Young has improperly claimed a property tax exemption on both the condo she owns in North Greenbush and her Cattaraugus County home for almost a dozen years. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union archive)

Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Sen. Young has improperly claimed a property tax exemption on both the condo she owns in North Greenbush and her Cattaraugus

Senator Cathy Young, R-Olean, takes part in a press conference with fellow members of the Senate Republican Conference as they unveiled their Family Tax Relief Act at the Capitol on Monday, March 4, 2013 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Senator Cathy Young, R-Olean, takes part in a press conference with fellow members of the Senate Republican Conference as they unveiled their Family Tax Relief Act at the Capitol on Monday, March 4, 2013 in

Sen. Cathy Young, center, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Sen. Young has improperly claimed a property tax exemption on both the condo she owns in North Greenbush and her Cattaraugus County home for almost a dozen years. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union archive)

Sen. Cathy Young, center, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Sen. Young has improperly

Senator Cathy Young, R-Olean, surrounded by fellow members of the Senate Republican Conference, addresses those gathered at a press conference where Senate Republicans unveiled their Family Tax Relief Act at the Capitol on Monday, March 4, 2013 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Senator Cathy Young, R-Olean, surrounded by fellow members of the Senate Republican Conference, addresses those gathered at a press conference where Senate Republicans unveiled their Family Tax Relief Act at

Senator Cathy Young, R-Olean, surrounded by fellow members of the Senate Republican Conference, addresses those gathered at a press conference where Senate Republicans unveiled their Family Tax Relief Act at the Capitol on Monday, March 4, 2013 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Senator Cathy Young, R-Olean, surrounded by fellow members of the Senate Republican Conference, addresses those gathered at a press conference where Senate Republicans unveiled their Family Tax Relief Act at

Sen. Cathy Young, center, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Sen. Cathy Young, center, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Photo: Cindy Schultz

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Yancey Migliore of Whitecliff Vineyard in Ulster County, left, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Joining her are Tom Edwards, vice president of the NYS Liquor Store Assoc., center, and Sen. Cathy Young. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Yancey Migliore of Whitecliff Vineyard in Ulster County, left, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in

Scott Fink, of McAdam Buyrite liquor store in Manhattan, left, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Joining him are Tom Edwards, vice president of the NYS Liquor Store Assoc., center, and Sen. Cathy Young. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Scott Fink, of McAdam Buyrite liquor store in Manhattan, left, speaks on the Fall in Love with NY Wine campaign to promote state wines during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at the Capitol in

ALBANY — More than six years ago, a senator from the Southern Tier signed and cashed a $77.22 check from the state related to a property tax exemption she improperly received on a North Greenbush condo.

However, Republican Sen. Cathy Young has claimed she first learned on March 2 of this year that her family was improperly getting a Basic STAR exemptions on both the condo so co-owns with her husband, Richard, as well as their Olean house. Over a dozen years, the Youngs reaped $2,277.18 in improper benefits for the condo.

The Times Union obtained a copy of the canceled check from October 2006, part of a three-year "rebate" program that provided homeowners with additional property tax relief, through a Freedom of Information Law request.

In a statement, the senator noted that she has repaid North Greenbush taxpayers — with penalties, her settlement came to $4,214.42 — and that it was Richard Young who manages the family finances. She said she cashed the check, which was sent to her Olean home, without asking questions.

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"The [North Greenbush] Town Assessor verified in writing that we never applied for the STAR Exemption," the senator said in a statement. "Now we learn that several years ago, a check issued by the New York State Taxation and Finance Department was deposited in the bank. That check would have been handled like any other check that comes to a home from the Taxation and Finance Department, which returns money that was the taxpayers' to begin with.

"Grateful to get what appeared to be our own money back, the check was deposited," the statement continues. "If it were mistakenly paid to us and Taxation and Finance Department was responsible for erroneously issuing the check, then we will either return the proper amount to the state, or if directed, donate it to charity.

North Greenbush Town Assessor John Harkin said the Youngs' condo exemption carried over from the unit's previous owner, and that both he and they were at fault for not acting on the error. The senator said she learned of the double dipping during a "casual conversation" with her husband, but the state's Department of Taxation and Finance had noticed it several days earlier and notified the Olean assessor.

In response to the Times Union's request, a DTF analyst explained that, "In 2006, STAR rebate checks were issued automatically to owners of properties receiving the STAR exemption on the 2006 assessment rolls." The Youngs received the $77.22 for the condo as well as a $172.53 check, made out to Richard Young, for the Olean home. In 2007, records show the Youngs applied for a rebate for their Olean home, but it's unclear if they received any additional checks.

Homeowners around the state loved the rebate checks, and Senate Republicans screamed in 2009 when Democrats in the Legislature approved a budget that ended the program.

Late last month, the Senate Republicans — including Young — announced they were pushing to revive the rebate program in this year's budget.

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos acknowledged there is some fraud in the STAR program, but said New York City residents with second properties upstate were mostly to blame.

In an unsolicited statement, Skelos spokeswoman Kelly Cummings called the Times Union's questions about the rebate checks, "a rehash of something that already has been settled."

"Senator Young worked swiftly and directly to correct these errors, and has agreed to pay back any and all money that was owed," Cummings' said. "This matter is closed."